Morning Crypto Report: Vitalik Buterin Warns on Zcash (ZEC), XRP Eyes 69% Price Surge, $100,000 BTC Forecast for 2025

As November ends, cryptocurrency markets react uniquely due to a lack of traditional market influences. Vitalik Buterin's recent warnings on Zcash governance bring focus to important discussions regarding the asset's future. Meanwhile, XRP is poised for a historical price surge, and Bitcoin's Bollinger Bands hint at significant movement ahead.

Key Takeaways

Vitalik Buterin warns about Zcash's governance and advocates against token voting.
XRP has historically achieved significant gains in December, with a potential for a 69% increase.
Bitcoin's price is currently at a critical level, with potential to reach $100,000 in 2025 if it breaks key resistance.

Morning Crypto Report: Vitalik Buterin Issues Zcash (ZEC) Warning, XRP Teases 69% Price Rise, $100,000 BTC Is Real in 2025: Bollinger Bands

Main Content

As the month draws to a close, the cryptocurrency market enters a unique phase, with traditional markets offline. This scenario often means that the final hours of the month have heightened significance, allowing cryptocurrencies to mark their monthly trends without external influences from equities or macroeconomic flows.

Recently, Zcash (ZEC) has found itself in the spotlight again after Vitalik Buterin issued a pointed warning regarding its governance. He expressed his hope that Zcash could "resist the dark hand of token voting," alluding to concerns he raised back in 2021. During that time, Buterin criticized coin-weighted governance as fundamentally flawed, arguing that it transfers control to short-term holders who may prioritize immediate profits over essential features, including privacy.

“I hope Zcash resists the dark hand of token voting. Token voting is bad in all kinds of ways; I think it's worse than Zcash's status quo. Privacy is exactly the sort of thing that will erode over time if left to the median token holder.”
— Vitalik Buterin

This warning comes as ZEC experiences a cooling phase following a sharp rise above $700, now trading between the $440-$470 range. The community is currently engaged in discussions on how to shape Zcash governance moving forward. Notably, around 5 million ZEC, roughly 30% of the circulating supply, is already locked in shielded pools where owners' identities remain hidden.

With governance concerns escalating and liquid supply becoming tighter, Zcash is nearing a pivotal decision that could impact the validity of its privacy model or shift it towards short-term token incentives.

As we transition into December, historical performance data from CryptoRank reveals that XRP has a strong track record during this month, posting an average return of about 69% since 2013. This statistic not only highlights XRP's potential for significant gains but also indicates the high volatility the cryptocurrency often experiences in December.

The month closed on a Sunday this year, a closing that gives cryptocurrency prices an edge as traditional equities and foreign exchange markets remain closed. This setup sometimes leads to abrupt price movements at the close of the month without interference from other markets.

XRP Monthly Performance
Source: CryptoRank

November was challenging for XRP, which saw a drawdown of approximately 26%. After a brief recovery at the end of the month, XRP finished with a -13% return. This performance puts added pressure on the upcoming December price action, as traders will look to see if history can repeat itself.

If XRP mirrors previous December trends, even a partial rebound could push prices up significantly, potentially leading to a 69% rise. The significance of the monthly close cannot be overstated, as it resets the market dynamics once the December candle opens.

In the meantime, Bitcoin's Bollinger Bands are tightening—a classic indicator of an impending price expansion. The critical factor to watch is the mid-band; a break above this line could shift the market stance, setting a target in the vicinity of $102,000 according to TradingView.

BTC has been inching towards this line for several sessions. However, concerns arise about whether buyers can assert control.

Bitcoin Chart
BTC/USD by TradingView

If Bitcoin remains below the mid-band for an extended period, this could signal exhaustion rather than preparation for a breakout, leaving room for a further pullback. Conversely, a successful breach above the mid-band as the month concludes could quickly shift the outlook, paving the way for a significant bullish scenario that many have awaited.

As November draws to a close, the market remains poised with a variety of factors that could lead to decisive movements. Bitcoin, XRP, and Zcash are currently in focus, but broader market trends will influence the overall narrative for December.

Key levels to watch: